Why doomsday predictions make us do less, not more?
In short: The more we hear about the end of the world, the less we do to save it. This psychological phenomenon, known as apocalypse fatigue, creates a mental shield that shuts down our ability to act. To solve the climate crisis, we may need to change how we speak about it.
Psychologist and economist Per Espen Stoknes argues that the primary obstacle to addressing climate change is not a lack of data, but the way our brains process it. While we have had sufficient knowledge of climate science for over 30 years, our understanding of human psychology in response to that science has lagged behind. When people are bombarded with doomsday narratives—such as coastal flooding, destructive storms, and species extinctions—they often experience a drop in engagement. This is because constant exposure to catastrophe can trigger fear or guilt, which are passive emotions that lead to disconnection and avoidance rather than proactive behavior.
Stoknes identifies five specific psychological defenses humans use to avoid thinking about the state of the planet, ranging from distancing oneself from the debate to outright denial of the underlying science. To counter these, he suggests 'flipping' these defenses into success criteria. Instead of focusing on overwhelming, abstract disasters, Stoknes proposes reframing the conversation into three more effective categories that foster engagement: health, safety, and personal connection.
One approach is to frame climate change as a health issue, focusing on tangible concerns like clean air for our families and children. Another is a safety or insurance framing, which appeals to business and financial sectors by treating climate change as a risk management problem. By moving away from the 80 percent of news that plays up catastrophe and toward personable, do-able, and supportive frames, we can transform paralysis into societal action.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: How to transform apocalypse fatigue into action on global warming | Per Espen Stoknes
- Also: How to transform apocalypse fatigue into action against global warming by Per Stoknes
- Also: How to Overcome “Apocalypse Fatigue” Around Climate Change
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